Story perspectives

Ukrainian Journalists Killed in Drone Strike: War Crime Condemned

10/24/2025

Summary

Story summary

On October 23, 2025, Ukrainian journalists Olena Hubanova and Yevhen Karmazin were killed in Kramatorsk when their vehicle at a petrol station was struck by a Lancet drone; colleague Oleksandr Kolychev was injured.
Ukraine's human rights ombudsman called the attack a war crime.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike, calling it Russia's effort to silence reporters.
Since Russia's 2022 invasion, 135 media workers have been killed in Ukraine.

History

Historical Context

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of 135 journalists, reflecting a troubling trend of press targeting reminiscent of the 2003 Iraq War. This ongoing violence underscores the urgent need for international protections for journalists in conflict zones, as the war continues to escalate and threaten media freedom.

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Story summary

On October 23, 2025, Ukrainian journalists Olena Hubanova and Yevhen Karmazin were killed in Kramatorsk when their vehicle at a petrol station was struck by a Lancet drone; colleague Oleksandr Kolychev was injured.
Ukraine's human rights ombudsman called the attack a war crime.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike, calling it Russia's effort to silence reporters.
Since Russia's 2022 invasion, 135 media workers have been killed in Ukraine.

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